Threading tool for venetian blind cords



J. H. BAN

THREADING TOOL FOR VENETIAN BLIND CORDS Dec. 28, 1954 Filed Dec. 12, 1952 Jase 26H 5e1 A}. ZAZ, M, /w M United Sates Ptent Fatenteel Dec. 28, 1954 THREADING TOOL FOR VENETIAN BLIND QOWS Joseph H. Ban, Chicago, Ill. Application December 12, 1952, Serial No. 325,630 1 Claim. (Cl. 223-1il5) My invention relates to a threading tool for Venetian blind cords.

Frequently the lift cords of a Venetian blind are withdrawn from the blind so that the individual slats may be removed for purposes of cleaning, replacement, or repair. After replacing the slats in the blind, it is, of course, necessary to thread the lift cords through the individual slats and thereafter fasten them to the bot-- tom rail of the blind.

One object of my invention is to provide a tool which greatly simplifies the aforesaid operation of threading the lift cords through the slats of Venetian blinds.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hi hly satisfactory threading tool which can be manufactured at extremely low cost and which will have an unlimited life. The tool is constructed of three easily formed metallic members which can be readily assembled.

Another object is to provide a threading tool which has substantial weight. The weight cooperates during use of the tool to facilitate the threading operation.

Still another object is to provide a threading tool having spaced resilient jaws which grip the cord when the latter merely is slipped between the jaws.

Still another object is to provide a threading tool of a certain length, which length has been found particu larly satisfactory for the intended use of the tool.

Other objects, advantages and details of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one structural form of the invention. it is to be understood, of course, that in commercial applications of the invention various details might well vary somewhat from those here shown and described.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a threading tool em bodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Pig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a Venetian blind illustrating the use of my tool for threading a lift cord through the slats.

Referring to the drawing, my improved threading tool in its simplest form is made of three parts, a core membe:1 5 and two symmetrical flanking plate members 6 an 7.

Core member 5 is a solid, elongated metal member having a pair of flat, parallel opposite sides. In the form of the invention illustratred, core member 5 is rectangular in cross section. It is made of a relatively heavy material such as bar steel.

The symmetrical flanking plate members 6 and 7 are made of resilient material such as semi-spring steel, and they are attached, as by welding, respectively to the flat opposite sides of member 5. The width of plate members 6 and 7 preferably corresponds with the width of the flat sides of core member 5 to which the plate members are attached.

Plate members 6 and 7 extend beyond both ends of core member 5, and the extending portions 8 and 9 at one end are bent inwardly in a tapering manner to form a wedge-like leading end 10 for the tool. The sides of these extending portions also may be tapered, as shown in the drawing.

Extending portions 3a and 9a at the other end of the tool have extremities bent towards each other, preferably at right angles, to form spaced, opposing cord gripping jaws 12 and 13. The minimum spacing 14, provided between the central regions of the opposing jaws, is substantially less than the diameter of cords customarily used in Venetian blinds. The jaws taper outwardly from the central regions as shown at 12a and 13a. It has been found desirable to provide semi-circular recesses 16 and 17 in the opposing edges of jaws 12 and 13. As will be at understood, the end of the cord to be threaded is inserted laterally through one of the throats defined by the jaw tapers 12a and 13a into the space 14 between the jaws. The cord spreads the jaws somewhat, and the resilience of the extending portions 8a and 9a of the plate members causes the jaws to grip the cord end in a retentive manner.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown a portion of one side of a Venetian blind comprising the usual vertical tapes 20, staggered cross tapes 21, bottom rail 22, slats 23 and lift cord 24. Slats 23 are provided with the usual openings 25 which pass the lift cord.

A tool 27 embodying my invention is shown connected to the end of lift cord 24 in position to thread the cord through openings 25 of the illustrated slats. It will be noted that tool 27 has an overall length which corresponds generally with three times the distance between adjacent horizontal slats. l have found that this particular tool length is particularly suitable for the use intended, and that the tool functions in a superior manner with this length compared with substantially longer or shorter lengths.

in using the tool, the individual slats 23 are positioned in the blind in general alignment with each other, the openings 25 being located between the vertical planes defined by the staggered cross tapes 21.

The lift cord 21, which extends downwardly through an opening in the head rail (not shown), is threaded manually through the openings 25 of the first two or three next lower slats. Then tool 27 is attached to the free end of lift cord 24, as previously explained, and its leading end 1th is threaded through openings 25 in the next lower two slats 23. Thereafter, the force of gravity due to the substantial weight of tool 27 is effective to cause the tool to pass downwardly through successive openings 25. Rubbing on the tool or cord due to minor misalignment of the slats 23 may tend to halt the descent of tool 27, but this can be overcome by slightly vibrating the blind in the vicinity of the tool.

As will be seen, the length of the tool is such that at all times it may engage at least two of the slats, and it has been found that the general alignment provided by such engagement is effective to steer leading end 10 of the tool into the opening of the next lower slat. Engagement of the tool with either one or three or more slats has been found to provide an erratic alignment with the result that the tool does not descend with the ease occurring when the engagement is with two slats at the time the leading end is about to enter the opening of the next lower slat.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes in detail may be made without departing from the spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A threading tool for Venetian blind cords comprising an elongated metal member having a pair of flat, parallel opposite sides and a pair of resilient plate members connected one to each of said sides and extending beyond the ends thereof, the extending portions at one end being bent inwardly to form a wedgelike leading end and the extending portions at the other end having the extremities thereof bent toward each other to form spaced cord gripping jaws, said jaws having a central cord gripping region and being tapered outwardly from said region to provide tapered throats leading to said region, the resilience of said plate members being effective to clamp said jaws on a cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,580,859 Schulze Apr. 13, 1926 2,610,777 Harris Sept. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,079 Great Britain Jan. 17, 1893 

